[Background Information] Brazil

b r a z i l
Written by Elena, with help from Daphne and Laura
Shops by Chaw, Elena, Gavin, Heather, Samm, Sarah C, and Sioban

Brazil, officially known as República Federativa do Brasil (Federative Republic of Brazil), is the largest country in both South America and the Latin America area, and its capital city is Brasília. Brazil is home to a wizarding community almost as large, if not larger than, the one found in the United Kingdom.

The Amazon rainforest is known to have significant magical populations, and is where the wizarding village Arasselva can be found, along with the municipalities of Caxambu, Manaus, and Teresina.

t e r e s i n a
a l l   f o r   c h a r i t y

Teresina, the capital of the state of Piauí, is one of Brazil’s most populous municipalities, and the only capital in the Brazilian Northeast that is not located on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. However, the city is situated between the Parnaíba river and its branch, the Poti River. The two streams join at the city’s northern end, where the famous environmental park O Encontro das Águas resides.

Being located in a transition zone between the northeast and the Amazon, Teresina is surrounded by mata dos cocais, savannas, and cerradões, where many carnaúba, babaçu, buriti palms, jatobás, ipês, and many other medium-sized trees can be found. In the province there are also remnants of the Teresina Atlantic Forest, which makes the landscape’s plant coverage especially rich and rather impenetrable.

Due to the fact that it is especially easy to blend in and rather hard to be found due to the city’s impassable forest, Teresina hosts one of the largest wizarding populations of Brazil. However, Teresina is widely known for being the residence of Brazil’s dark wizards, artefacts dealers, hitwizards, dark plants centred herbologists, poisons experts potioneers, and extremely cheap to hire, yet very sketchy, curse breakers. 

Teresina’s official languages within the wizarding community are Portuguese, Spanish, and English. Most witches and wizards living in the area know at least two of the languages at a proficient level, due to the illegal underground trades that often occur.

Behind Palácio de Karnak, the wizarding area of Piauí can be found; officially known as Vila Mágica do Poty. The main boulevard is home to the wizarding bank headquarters. A representation of each wizarding magical bank can be found on the Pedro II Boulevard. On the adjacent streets, there are especially luxurious and flamboyant casinos and dancing clubs, trading markets, dark magic oriented shops and much more. Upon entering each location, it is a local practise for the customer to be greeted by the workers with a complimentary glass of either cajuína or cachaça.

It is essential to mention that there is no official currency in Teresina; all currencies are equal within Vila Mágica do Poty, and are five times worth their muggle equivalent.

The residential area of Vila Mágica do Poty can be found at the periphery of the wizarding establishment, and is very contrasting. It oscillates between neoclassical palaces, modernist skyscrapers, and more modest neo-gothic houses.

h i p n ó t i c o
w h e r e   d u s t   t u r n s   t o   g o l d

street address: 9 Avenida Central, Vila Mágica do Poty, Teresina, Piauí
hours: Daily, 22:00 – 06:00. Special arrangements can be made for visits at other times.
merchandise: Casino.
description: The most famous and notorious casino in all of Latin America, Hipnótico is also known to be the first casino in Teresina. It is owned by the infamous Lima family known for producing many metamorphmagi, hypnotists and illusionists, the current owner being famous metamorphmagus and hypnotist Ladislao Lima, a thirty-seven (or eighty-seven, one does not really know) year old wizard, mostly known for his imposing, yet striking presence. He is renowned for having had over one hundred seventy fiancées, who all have managed to disappear in mysterious circumstances; the Brazilian Aurors have never found anything regarding the disappearances, and Ladislao has always been considered ‘unlucky’ when it came to love.

The most alluring aspect of the casino is that nobody knows what it really looks like. Being under over two hundred charms, spells of hypnosis, and illusions, which have been perfected and enhanced over the centuries, Hipnótico takes the appearance of each witch or wizard’s desires; be it an exuberant establishment, luxurious and decorated with gold, or a more simple and rustic, smaller set up, Hipnótico becomes what the viewer wants to see. The power of the spells and charms do not apply only to its exterior, but its interior as well, and everything a person sees there, including other people. Due to the fact that everyone sees what and whom they want, Hipnótico is known to have an unwritten rule of ‘be careful whom you kiss indoors’, for some very unfortunate hook-ups are known to have happened in the casino.

The illusions also apply to the games. Naturally, since all players want to win, inside it always seems to the player that they have won. However, when leaving, one might realise they have either ended up with dust in their pockets, or kilograms of gold and other riches; hence Hipnótico’s slogan. However, only five percent of individuals are known to have won within Hipnótico throughout the centuries. It is taken as a challenge to win over the house, and generally, those who indeed win, their gains are of such magnitude that their families don’t have to work for two or three generations.

Hipnótico’s high ranked employees are known to be only metamorphmagi, whereas the others are specialised in either hypnosis or illusions. The only people who are not affected by the spells and charms are those of the Lima family, who already alter their appearance due to their metamorphagus abilities. Generally, Ladislao Lima can be found on the fifth floor of the casino, enjoying a drink at the bar.

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street address: 11 Rua Realeza, Vila Mágica do Poty, Teresina, Piauí
hours: Thursday – Sunday, 21:00 – 06:00. Special arrangements can be made for visits at other times.
merchandise: Bar. Table dancing. Meeting place of strange and unpleasant characters.
description: A so-called “gentleman’s establishment” has existed on the rather run-down street of Rue Realeza since the mid 1960’s, but it was not until 1973 that it became the infamous “A lua azul”. Originally owned by small time criminal Carlos Francisco Teixeira, the establishment operated semi-legally as a bar / night-club, but was known mostly for the activities that occurred within its walls, an under-the-radar trade of illegal potions, witch-trafficing, and a frequent clientele that included the Crème de la Crème of Teresina’s wizarding criminality. Auror raids were a near-weekly occurrence. By June 1989 the bar was shut down after an escalating string of gangland murders led to an attack upon the establishment by a group of aggrieved gang members that led to the death of several patrons, including Teixeira himself. By 1995, the club had been reestablished, along with a somewhat cleaner image.

Teixeira’s son, Lucas, a wizard in his late 40’s with a string of convictions for low-level crime and a stint in prison for the grievous assault of a patron in 1997, is now the owner of the club. He can often be seen standing by the bar, warmly greeting his favoured clients and buying rounds of drinks for new ones he is suspicious of.

The club is accessed through a set of descending steps to the basement of an apparently condemned apartment block. If the visitor is considered worthy enough (i.e. not visibly intoxicated and/or not an Auror), he or she will gain admittance behind a heavily-charmed steel door into a long and bleakly-lit corridor, at the end of which is the entrance to the club proper, guarded as one would expect by several massive and brooding doormen.

Inside, the layout is reasonably large; a bar with a limited drink selection (anything more exotic than tequila will result in a death-stare from the heavily-moustached barman) is on the right hand side. A small stage at the back of the room allows the dancers to cavort as required, whilst circular tables in the centre of the room allow such entertainments to take place in the near-vicinity of the drinkers. Touching a dancer results in immediate expulsion, most-frequently coupled with a good kicking. High-value clients may be allowed more “private” time with the dancers - there are small VIP rooms that lay in the labyrinthine offices behind the stage. Such rooms are also used for other activities; potion distribution, the “special treatment” of such persons considered deserving of it, amongst other activities.

Visitors should be aware that Auror surveillance teams are usually located in the apartment block across the street, and they frequently take photos of those who come and go from the establishment.

g u i l h e r m e ’ s   d a r k   c u r i o s i t i e s
t h e   f o r e m o s t   s h o p   f o r   d a r k   o d d i t i e s   f o u n d   n o w h e r e   e l s e
n o   r e f u n d s ,  e x c h a n g e s ,  o r   r e t u r n s

street address: 25 Rua Miguel de Carvalho e Melo, Vila Mágica do Poty, Teresina, Piauí
hours: Daily; 16:00 – 00:00, or by appointment.
merchandise: Guilherme’s carries only the “finest” in dark paraphernalia and ingredients necessary for the creation of potions and the casting of spells.
description: Guilherme’s is a seedy building nestled in the back of a shabby alley in a relatively safe part of town. As a city with a darker reputation, it was found that the tourists would wander into the more dangerous parts of town and end up robbed or dead. While a touch of danger is a draw, actually dying tends to keep people away. To boost the number of living tourists, Guilherme petitioned the city to allow him to open a “dark” shop in the main shopping district that catered to the more gullible tourists. He would stock mostly harmless items of a questionable legality to sell to visiting idiots in exchange for protection from prosecution and to be featured prominently in local guides. The plan was met with great enthusiasm and Guilherme was free to sell many mildly dark items to many dumb foreigners. Cursed artefacts are purchased at the buyer’s own risk. Guilherme’s is not responsible for any ill luck, maiming, exsanguination, sudden hair loss, dysentery, allergies, bad hair days, overactive bowels, or death of the firstborn.

s p a   d e   d e s p e r t a r   d a   a l m a
s o u l   a w a k e n i n g   s p a

street address: 9 Rua Almeida Branca, Vila Mágica do Poty, Teresina, Piauí
hours: Monday – Saturday, 9:00 – 21:00.
merchandise: Soul cleansing, soul retrieval, massages, facials, potions for the soul.
description: Spa de Despertar da Alma is a quaint and quiet shop on the corner with only a large window on the storefront. It is two stories tall with a basement. The ground level contains the store where witches and wizards are welcome to purchase items and artefacts to heal their mind, body and soul as well as comfy plush waiting areas with potted plants, water fountains, and soft melodic music. The entire place is covered with bamboo and wood accents as well as marble, stone, earth tones, and plants – lots of plants. Every guest gets a warm towel to snuggle with while waiting for their turn. The second floor has rooms dedicated to facials, massages, as well as manicures, pedicures, and for hair to be dyed, trimmed, styled, or cut. The basement contains rooms for soul cleansing and soul retrieval as well as a sauna that can comfortably fit four (if they’re so inclined to sauna together), two hot spring-like bath pools, and a mud bath. It also has locker rooms for witches and wizards to store their personal belongings.

Everything can be customized to the customer’s satisfaction using potions to impact the five senses in some way as well as create moods. The spa welcomes all walks of life. They occasionally have specials and adore it when couples come in to do couple massages or make out in a hot spring. The employees pride themselves on creating a relaxing, warm atmosphere for their clients. They use ancient dialect to talk amongst themselves, but will happily speak the visitor’s language through charms.

The overall feel of the spa is warm, inviting, and relaxing. It’s easy to spend an entire day here.

b r e n o ’ s   b e a n s
k i n g   o f   t h e   b e a n

street address: 17 Rua Sebastião José Bombarda, Vila Mágica do Poty, Teresina, Piauí
hours: Twenty-four hours.
merchandise: Various overpriced coffee drinks, desserts, and sandwiches.
description: Breno’s has been around longer than anyone knows, the sign on the door that says ‘established in 1875’ being salvaged from a junk sale two years ago. From the outside the building doesn't look like much, but inside the walls are painted fiesta red and the floor is dark worn wood, used furniture is scattered around the small store front, and the tables are cleaned instantaneously by magic. Behind the counter of deliciousness, are wizard-made machines that crank out the very best coffee of this side of the equator at super speeds. Fresh sandwiches and desserts made daily are housed in the curved glass display case next to the register. The bustling coffee shop is a melting pot of the young and the old, artists and bankers, dark and light; everyone is welcome as long as they’re buying something. Behind the counter, the wall is covered with a magically held light up sign that simply states “Many things divide us, but coffee brings us together”.

t e r r a   c e r â m i c a
t r a d i t i o n a l   e a r t h e n   w a r e

street address: 27 Rua David Caldas, Vila Mágica do Poty, Teresina, Piauí
hours: Monday – Wednesday: 10:30 – 17:00; Thursday: closed; Friday: 11:00 – 17:00; Saturday: 11:00 – 17:00; Sunday: closed.
merchandise: Pottery, ceramics, glassware.
description: Terra Cerâmica is a traditional Brazilian pottery shop. Though located in Teresina, the shop sells handmade pottery and the like from all across South America, not just from its homeland. Pottery styles differ widely but what links everything together is an abundance of colour. Terra Cerâmica showcases local artisans and draws inspiration from traditions and folklore.

Located in north eastern Brazil, the shop specialises mainly in “Pernambuco style”. This style of pottery is traditionally made in a reddish clay and portrays regional scenes and are adorned and painted with vibrant colours after firing. Designs vary from place to place, as is expected with a country as large as Brazil. Terra Cerâmica has divided its shop into regional sections. They carry everything from large pots and vases to finely decorated clay figurines. There is a mishmash of sizes and colours within the shop, everything from plain functional plates and bowls to dazzling high vases and sparkling glass peacocks.

On the last Saturday of each month, Terra Cerâmica holds pottery classes. These classes are held from noon to 17:00 and are run by local craftspeople and artisans. The shop also holds talks from local artists who like to share about their inspiration for their crafts.

p o t y ’ s   m a n o r
v i l a   m á g i c a   d o   p o t y   h o t e l   e   c a s i n o

street address: 7 Avenida Central, Vila Mágica do Poty, Teresina, Piauí
hours: Twenty-four hours.
merchandise: Hotel, casino, bar, restaurant, and wine tasting room.
description: Rumoured to be one of the oldest buildings in Vila Mágica do Poty, Poty’s Manor is located on Avenida Central, right across from the Brazilian Gringotts Headquarters. Although it undergone several restorations, and has also been used for a time as the town hall, the building surprises through its elegance, grace and classical beauty, being considered one of the wizarding world’s marvels. Five hundred years ago however, the building was lost by the mayor at the time in a poker game. It now belongs to one of the richest wizarding families known to Brazil, and the establishment was turned into the prestigious and luxurious hotel one only dreams of entering today, should they afford the expensive and over-the-top prices. 

hotel: The majestic hotel’s lobby is decorated in black and white marbles, along with golden accents. In the middle, a grand staircase can be found, which leads to the upper floors. The superior levels are destined only for the rich and influential guests residing at the hotel, although there are a few select rooms which can be afforded by the upper middle class, though less exuberant. The hotel is therefore known for hosting both lavish suites, along with smaller rooms; all have large balconies.

casino: The casino of Poty’s Manor is found on the ground floor; while not small in size, for Teresina standards it is considered a rather intimate establishment, but it definitely makes up for its size through its high bets. The casino is decorated in intense nuances of reds, blues, and gold, which are said to hypnotise the player into betting more and more money as the game advances. The manager of the casino is a goblin, who makes sure that all players pay their debts immediately or else. 

bar: Located at the centre of the ground floor, the bar is the heart of the establishment. It’s known worldwide for its cocktails which combine potions and spirits and take its drinkers out of this world – sometimes quite literally.

restaurant: The restaurant of Poty’s Manor generally serves light breakfasts and lunches, before it closes around 16:00. After two hours, at 18:00 sharp, it re-opens as a candle-lit establishment, decorated in dark shades of black velvet and red silk. The menu consists of both local and regional delicacies, along with the owner’s favourite international dishes – all of which are, of course, Latin American specialities.   

wine tasting room: The cool and dark cellar of the manor now hosts one of Teresina’s most famous wine tasting rooms; it is lit with golden torches, and has dark red wooden tables. Although rustic in style compared to the flamboyance of the rest of the establishment, the cellar has become one of the manor’s most visited chambers, for it hosts wine from all over the world. Along with one’s preferred wine, guests are also served with cheese and grapes. Should one’s favourite one not be found, for the right place, the staff will procure it for them. The wine tasting room is opened daily for the hotel’s guests, and a few select visitors who have booked beforehand.

secret rooms: A number of secret rooms are hidden throughout the building, let it be through illusions or other means of magic. These private chambers are only known to staff, and are dedicated for private parties, generally illegal gambling events for individuals unknown to society.

d a n ç a   d o   d i a b o
l e t   t h e   h e a t   o f   t h e   n i g h t   t a k e   y o u

street address: 13 Avenida Central, Vila Mágica do Poty, Teresina, Piauí
hours: Open on holidays and weekly Friday – Sunday, 20:00 – 5:00.
merchandise: Dance club
description: Dança do Diabo is a night club, which also serves as a bar and a rave-hosting establishment. Found on Vila Mágica do Poty’s Avenida Central, the night club is generally frequented by the younger witches and wizards, who find themselves entertained while being served by waiters and waitresses transfigured to look like devils – some find it comical, while for others it is especially appealing. The bar is known for serving only original cocktails and blends, such as the Blue Devil, Hot as Hell, and Stuck in the Floo. Once one gets their fill of several cocktails, should they be able to get up and not have their ghost surface out of their physical body, they can enjoy the Latin American rhythms on one of the two dance floors. There is a special booth opened for a select few, which is used for karaoke.

c a x a m b u
m e d i c i n e   b e t we e n   f l o w e r s

A municipality of the state of Minas Gerais, Caxambu is celebrated for Parque das Águas Lysandro Guimarães, a spa resort which has twelve sources of mineral water flowing twenty-four hours per day and a cold-water geyser. The landscape of the city is marked by mountains, valleys, and large areas of fertile lands. Unknown to muggles, the wizarding population of Caxambu has preserved several caves and waterfalls, which are now representing the wizarding quarters of Caxambu.

The entrance to the wizarding quarters of Caxambu is through Parque das Águas, and one has to jump in a fountain to enter through the protective barrier cast by Mayor Marco de Souza, who has been guarding the city’s best interests for almost twenty years. Once entering the wizarding area of Caxambu, otherwise known as Águas Mágicas Bairro, there is the neo-gothic style Praça das Águas, which hosts twelve especially grand fountains of the twelve mineral waters, each fountain having a representative statue. The statues each represent a muse of the ancient god guarding a particular year of the month, therefore each one of the twelve mineral waters is predominantly efficient during a specific month.   

In the centre of Praça das Águas, a cold-water geyser can be found, and it erupts each time a dark wizard enters the Águas Mágicas Bairro. The wizarding community in Caxambu is widely known for its medical, herbologist and potioneering abilities, all practitioners sticking to methodologies belonging strictly to white magic. Naturally, all inhabitants, despite their occupations, are sharing the same ideology. Dark magic and illegal activities are frowned upon in Caxambu, and the community is known for guarding its quarters quite thoroughly, the only two dark wizards known to history to have broken in being Gellert Grindelwald in 1926, and the “Ginger Witch” in 1996.

Praça das Águas represents the centre of the Águas Mágicas Bairro. The district is circular, and has a sole spiralled street. There is no clear partition in Águas Mágicas Bairro, many of the locals living above their own nature-centred shops, within their spa facilities, or in their inns. The Lysandro Guimarães High Institute of Herbology for postgraduates and researchers can be found in the quarter, and it is famous for not only its successful alumni and discoveries (such as the Caxambu Style Borborygmus Potion), but also for hosting important meetings organised by the International Confederation of Wizards.

All buildings are in neo-gothic style, and at the periphery there is the Isabela Guimarães natural reservation which completely surrounds the Águas Mágicas Bairro. The reservation hosts a lot of caves, waterfalls, and a small forest, being of a typical Karst topography like the rest of Minas Gerais. Caxambu’s official language is Portuguese.

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b e a u t y   f r o m   w i t h i n

street address: 3 Mirranto Morro, Águas Mágicas Bairro, Caxambu, Minas Gerais
hours: Monday: closed; Tuesday – Thursday: 9:00 – 19:00; Friday: 9:00 – 19:00; Saturday: 10:00 – 19:00; Sunday: closed
merchandise: Organic skincare, make up, food and clothing.
description: Ecco Verde prides itself on using Mother Nature to provide high performing and natural skincare. Situated in the perfect place to harvest the best of the earth, Ecco Verde is a front runner in the beauty industry. They believe that natural is best and they don’t use any artificial chemicals and preservatives. They use traditional recipes to make their own cold cream cleansers and moisturisers. Their most popular combines rose oil, avocado and water harvested from the nearby waterfalls and the cold-water geyser. As well as cosmetics, Ecco Verde also distils its own highly potent essentials oils. They sell everything from make up to lotions to aid sleep, organic food and snacks to bottled water, straight from the spa at the top of the mountain.

At Ecco Verde, wizards and witches can call in and the staff will make up potions to order. They firmly believe that nature has the answer to every possible ailment a person might encounter. They have oils for boosting the immune system to oily skin and everything in between. All of the cosmetics are made on the premises by a skilled set of healers and potioneers who favour a more laid-back, instinctive health regimen. The staff that work there hold internationally recognised qualifications so their products are safe to use, without any harsh and nasty additives. Ecco Verde is often featured in various wizarding magazines as they release new items so they are globally known.   Ecco Verde sell their wares in biodegradable containers and reusable glass potion vials. They’re committed to keeping the area they operate in as clean and beautiful as their products.

á g u a s   d a    d e u s a
r e s o r t   a n d   s p a

street address: 1 Rua da Deusa, Águas Mágicas Bairro, Caxambu, Minas Gerais
hours: Daily; 7:00 – 22:00.
merchandise: Luxurious inn, retreat and spa.
description: Águas da Deusa (The Goddess’ Waters) is an exclusive high-end resort situated in a less populated area of Águas Mágicas Bairro’s periphery. It is located near one of the twelve water springs which made the area famous, the resort is known for having one of the most exceptional mineral waters. The water here is especially good at purifying (for those who have dealt with curses) and rejuvenating (for witches and wizards over the age of fifty who desire to look under thirty). Within the Águas da Deusa establishment one can also book an appointment at the spa, which offers a large variety of services: potions jacuzzi, mud treatment, massages, and rune treatment.  One’s worries begin to fade as their mind becomes clearer while taking part of other relaxing activities as well: hiking through the rainforest, crystal meditation in caves, Mayan salt saunas, and obliviating pools. Águas da Deusa is renowned for making witches and wizards appear younger by at least seven years within seven days.

j a r d i m   d e   s a n t o s
r e s e a r c h   c e n t r e   a n d   b o t a n i c a l   g a r d e n

street address: Praça Santos, Águas Mágicas Bairro, Caxambu, Minas Gerais
hours: Monday – Friday; 8:00 – 20:00. Visitors and day researches are welcomed to visit during business hours, however night expeditions and viewings can be arranged by contacting one of the researchers.
merchandise: Research centre, botanical garden, and greenhouse.
description: Jardim de Santos is a research facility for illustrious herbologists, potioneers, and healers, renowned especially for having its own plantation. The main building is rather simple in style, neo-gothic, yet still imposing through its prestige. The superior levels of the establishment are closed to visitors, hosting the quarters of the researchers, along with their personal laboratories. The ground floor hosts the centre’s library, which is open for all, along with a small sitting room, and the dining quarters, along with the kitchens. The basement is used as the research centre’s potions depository, along with hosting a small amount of magical creatures – most of these magical creatures are generally treated for plant and potions poisoning, rather than experimented on. Jardim de Santos’ garden hosts a variety of plants, both magical and non-magical species. Beyond the greenhouse, there is a botanical garden, along with the entrance towards the forest.

The research centre was founded in the early 1600s, by a Portuguese wizard known as Juan Santos. He travelled the Americas in the search of new plants, and discovered many, being one of the world’s most renowned herbologists. Santos is known for having collaborated with natives to record all of the magical plants encountered in Latin America, however, his research was lost with time, and only a few select books and papers can still be found. Santos dedicated his life to research, and Jardim de Santos represents Brazil’s attempt of reviving his work, and establishing the limits of his discoveries.

A respected teacher, due to the various pupils he took under his wing, Santos’ research is rumoured to be have been centred on the fountain of youth. Whispers say that the reason his research has gone missing is because Juan discovered the secret to eternal youth, and ran away with his research. The Brazilian government has refused to comment on the matter, but it is widely known all researchers at the centre tend to live longer than the average witch or wizard.

f r u t a   c o m e s t í v e l
b i s t r o   o f   c a x a m b u

street address: 13 Via Primavera, Águas Mágicas Bairro, Caxambu, Minas Gerais
hours: Daily; 11:00 – 22:00.
merchandise: Restaurant, bar, and discotheque.
description: Fruta Comestível is especially popular among locals, nonetheless it is known to be very hospitable with tourists as well. The building is located near the forest, with large arches made out of stone and limestone floors, which are decorated with tropical plants. The theme of the establishment ‘refined jungle’, and does its best to live up to the status, despite being subjected to the occasional rainstorm, for it does not have a ceiling.

The bar is famous for its mixed fruity cocktails – beware though, they are known for enhancing the mood one is in, so should one be sad or angry, they should warn the bartender before ordering a drink. During weekends, the establishment is turned into a discotheque for local youths to hold dancing competitions, live concerts, and other parties. The most popular styles are samba, bossa-nova, sertanejo, and reggae.

o   q u a r t z o   r o s a
t h e   r o s e   q u a r t z

street address: 135 Avenida Água Mágica, Águas Mágicas Bairro, Caxambu, Minas Gerais
hours: Monday – Saturday: 16:00 – 22:00.
merchandise: Five star local fine dining.
description: The Rose Quartz serves a wide variety of the finest foods Brazil has to offer through a three, five, or seven course style dinner for high society witches and wizards. It is not a cheap place to dine, each course costing 10G per person. It seats roughly fifty patrons at a time, and often has a waiting list. Seating options include tables or booths. Reservations are recommended in order to get the best service, and can be placed by owl, or in person. They are busiest when international events are in town. The restaurant has a stylish warm interior, with delicate and intricate accents, plush booths and chairs. Tables are clothed in white, and pre-set with delicate china. The overall décor matches the neo-gothic architecture of Caxambu and airiness of light magic. The chefs are local witches and wizards, trained in culinary, that pride themselves in their cuisine, offering authentic food and drinks. The Rose Quartz wishes to give everyone excellent service and regulars are often known by name.

a r a s s e l v a
t h e   m o s t   p r i z e d   t r e a s u r e   i s   d a n g e r

Arasselva is a wizarding village in the state of Amazonas, and is situated only fifteen kilometres away from Castelobruxo. The village was first established by Eronildo Saraiva, one of Castelobruxo’s most redeemed curse breakers, in the late seventeenth century. It is a centre of research, exchange, and job listings for curse breakers. Arasselva is especially known for its Academia Internacional de Maldições Eronildo Saraiva, where talented young witches and wizards from all over the world are trained in the arts of curses and curse breaking.

The Amazonian environment in Arasselva is especially toxic. Set in the heart of a tropical rainforest, the wizarding village is established in the centre of one of the Amazon’s most poisonous forests. The village is surrounded by a vast Devil's Snare culture, which will protect the establishment against muggles or witches and wizards not skilled enough to be exposed to the vast knowledge of curse breaking. At the shore of the Amazon River, Arasselva is also home to some of the most dangerous South American magical creatures.

Arasselva’s architecture is pre-romanesque, with heavy Iberian influences in style, but mixed with Inca elements, most buildings having classical Inca style polished dry-stone walls.

Arasselva’s culture closely relates to the one of the Tupi, and the locals are proficient herbologists and agriculturalists; they grow cassava, corn, sweet potatoes, beans, peanuts, tobacco, squash, cotton and many others. Another part of Arasselva’s local population focuses on the magizoology side of the magical natural sciences, being especially protective of the magical creatures which inhabit the Amazonas.

Eronildo Saraiva’s statue can be found in Praça de Maldições, right in front of the Academia Internacional de Maldições Eronildo Saraiva. Surrounding the Academy, there are numerous herbology and magizoology shops and smaller research centres. Opposite to the Academy, there are the local pubs, which are also known as being the best place in the world for finding the most remarkable curse breakers. The residential area that surrounds Praça de Maldições is widely rumoured to be cursed for those who are not deemed as ‘worthy’ by the founder to enter it.

Being a wizarding village that is often visited by Castelobruxo’s students, Arasselva also has a special programme during weekends, where professors and academics from all over the world offer public lectures in Praça de Maldições. The official languages of Arasselva are Portuguese, Nheengatu, Spanish, and English. Most locals know at least two of the languages at a proficient level. All lectures however are offered strictly in Portuguese.

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street address: 4 Avenida Central, Arasselva, Amazonas
hours: Monday – Friday: 6:00 – 18:00; Saturday: 12:00 – 16:00.
merchandise: Café specialised in blessed and cursed baked goods. The menu also includes several assortments of Brazilian coffee, tea, soup and a daily special surprise. 
description: A bakery especially popular with Castelobruxo’s students, A Senhora Masa is deemed as a local hot spot. It is situated in the heart of the town, and many who frequent the shop for only a bread or a tortilla, will also get at least a cup of coffee or a bowl of stew before leaving the establishment. Senhora Masa has the talent of getting everyone buy much more than they initially desired without anyone realising it until after leaving the café. All visitors find the Senhora quite endearing and have polite exchanges with her. However, all the young girls working in the café (all below thirty years old in age and with extremely good looks and generous curves) warn that it is a risk even contradicting Senhora Masa; rumour has it the last wizard who contradicted her ended up as an afternoon snack for the beasts residing in the Amazon.   

No-one knows Senhora Masa’s true name or origins. She is a witch a little over fifty years old, and is naturally beautiful, still having her very generous share of admirers. When she was a little over eighteen years old, she started selling tortillas and breads in the town’s square, and claimed that each was either cursed or blessed. She is very skilled in baking magical goods, and is known to curse her goods beyond belief – should one request it, Senhora Masa can also work up a curse which can last for generations and introduce it in one of her baked goods. Castelobruxo students are known for being her most loyal customers, although the witch will not sell them advanced cursed pastries unless they have a written permission from a professor.

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street address: 12 Avenida Central, Arasselva, Amazonas
hours: Twenty-four hours.
merchandise: Bed and breakfast; the cost also covers meals and care for magical creatures and beasts.
description: Situated in the centre of the wizarding village, Casa Saraiva is the first inn established in Arasselva by its founder, Eronildo Saraiva. At first an establishment which hosted researchers, the inn developed and has become open for tourists as well. Nonetheless, generally, guests residing in Casa Saraiva are in the wizarding town for more than just a few days. The estate is unlike the other coloured establishments of Arasselva, the current owner and direct descendant of founder, Marco Saraiva desiring to keep the unique façade of the estate. While restored over the years, the building is therefore still modest in colours.

The estate faces the town square, and stands out through its grandeur. The main lobby, dining room, sitting room, and a library can be found on the ground floor, whereas guests’ rooms are on the upper floor, and a small bar is on the roof, which serves as a terrace. In the right wing, guests are welcome to leave their pets for caring and healing. The left wing is reserved as a safe area to hold cursed artefacts, should guests have any in their possession.

Although Casa lacks the opulent luxury of other hotels and resorts in Brazil, it makes up for it through its unique elegance and refinement. Its unique feature is that it has an indoor garden, with plants native to Amazonas. All rooms face the garden, and the indoor décor is rich and vibrant in colours. Prices are considered to be especially affordable compared to other establishments and the high quality of the services.

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street address: 16 Rua de Libatius Borage, Arasselva, Amazonas
hours: Daily; 8:00 – 16:00, or by appointment.
merchandise: Magical creatures shelter; all are up for adoption.
description: Paraíso de Palomo, or Arasselva’s main magical creatures shelter, is a secluded hut on the shore of the Amazon river, surrounded by a large number of cages, each able to house a magical creature which is undergoing healing. The owner, an Argentinian magizoologist in his late fifties, Pedro Palomo, is however considered the main attraction for many of Castelobruxo’s students; while the girls find him very charming, the boys love his stories about his adventures in the Amazonas during his youth. Many visitors are so thrilled to meet the famous Argentinian and they do not even realise when they end up adopting one or two magical creatures, so unless one desires to own their personal miniature dragon, it is not recommended to visit Paraíso de Palomo. Appointments can be arranged for magizoologists who desire to also observe magical creatures from the Amazonas.

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street address: 10 Rua Benedita Dourado, Arasselva, Amazonas
hours: Monday: closed; Tuesday – Friday: 12:00 – 18:00; Saturday – Sunday: 10:00 – 18:00.
merchandise: Stationery store; from school supplies to uniforms and cursed parchments.
description: First established by Eronildo Saraiva for the private usage of his hand-picked elite students, the stationery store is now popular with students both from Castelobruxo and Academia Internacional de Maldições Eronildo Saraiva. It is staffed by locals, graduates, and sometimes curse breaking students in need of some extra galleons. While Iberian in style and simple in appearance, the stationery store is always populated by a colourful crowds of students, always in search of certain supplies – from cheating quills, to cursed parchments that would make one’s professor turn into a turnip should they not award their student the highest grade. The last notable donor of the shop was Castelobruxo Headmistress Benedita Dourado.

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street address: 8 Praça de Maldições, Arasselva, Amazonas
hours: Daily; 11:00 – 3:00.
merchandise: Traditional Brazilian alcoholic drinks (most famous for its unique rabo-de-galo) and traditional snacks.
description: A pub popular among curse breakers and the Academy’s students, it is one of Arasselva’s most famous establishments. Although it is not the most elegant, it certainly provides a warm and happy atmosphere, as owner Yara Ferreira delivers to her slogan ‘drinks as cold as your exes’ in the very hot and humid climate of the Amazonas. The pub was originally built in a local Amazonian hut, however Yara has managed to modernise it according to her own liking, making it seem more posh than it actually is. While during its early hours Copacabana can seem quite the refined establishment, things change starting with the late afternoon, when students are out of class and together with locals have heated debates which often times result with fights.

During quidditch season, Yara makes special arrangements so there are ‘quidditch days’ or ‘quidditch nights’ for all fans to come in and listen to game from her pub. When requested, Miss Ferreira can also arrange the pub so it has a dance floor for more modest parties. Rumour has it Yara Ferreira is a successful business witch at the young age of twenty-two because she is a veela, nonetheless it has never been proven right.